A Waterloo Region Record blog on the Kitchener Rangers

September 22, 2017

Flint 5, Kitchener 3

PREGAME

Rangers: 36-27-3-2, sixth in west

Flint: 32-28-3-5, seventh in west

Head to head: The teams split the series 2-2 last season.

Game-time: 7:30 p.m.

Skinny: The Rangers were 2-3-0-1 in pre-season play while Flint was 1-4. Adam Mascherin had off-season shoulder surgery but has been cleared to play. Tonight’s tilt will be his first match since the playoffs. Kitchener F Connor Bunnaman was sent back to the team from the Flyers last night and will suit up. The ‘Birds are going young in net with sophomore Garrett Forrest and rookie Luke Cavallin.

Keep an eye on: Flint F Ryan Moore led the club with 39 goals and 51 assists and was seventh overall in OHL scoring last season. Though, the Rangers will get a pass tonight as he's suspended until Sept. 30.

- Rangers F Nick McHugh will sit out his one-game suspension stemming from last season's playoffs against Owen Sound.

- Kitchener defenceman Logan Stanley is still at Winnipeg Jets training camp. He'll be with the Jets through the weekend at minimum.

- F Eric Guest suffered a concussion in the final pre-season game and is back home in London and out indefinitely. Winger Dylan Seitz hurt his shoulder in a fight and is also out. He's listed as day-to-day.

- G Anthony Dumont-Bouchard starts tomorrow in Sarnia.

- Flint came out strong and outshot the Rangers 5-1 in the opening three and a half minutes. Ty Dellandrea really stood out.

- A solid crowd for the home opener. Hopefully it continues. It can be hit and miss early on.

- Depth really showing for the Rangers when you consider that McHugh, Guest and Seitz sat out. That’s a pretty solid trio. Toss in two picks playing Jr. B and there are reserves waiting to play.

- The Rangers came out hitting early on. Overall it felt like they were first to the puck a lot more than last season. Even strength defence has also improved.

- The power play should have no problems scoring. It’s loaded with snipers – Mascherin, Hugg, Bunnaman, Garreffa and Vallati. That's going to be fun to watch.

- Hugg was all over the ice in a good way. He was buzzing on pucks, played the PP and PK and is pretty crafty with the puck.

- Richardson made a beauty save on Nicholas Caamano on a breakaway early in the first. Overall, he deserved better. Wouldn't pin the loss on him in this one.

- Delay of game penalties aside, Connor Hall also made his presence known. It felt like he was on the ice the entire game.

- Would love to see the scoring chances for this game. Had to be advantage Rangers.

- Discipline is something the team can clean up. It's game one. Let's take a breath and see where things are at in a month.

Comments

Flint 5, Kitchener 3

PREGAME

Rangers: 36-27-3-2, sixth in west

Flint: 32-28-3-5, seventh in west

Head to head: The teams split the series 2-2 last season.

Game-time: 7:30 p.m.

Skinny: The Rangers were 2-3-0-1 in pre-season play while Flint was 1-4. Adam Mascherin had off-season shoulder surgery but has been cleared to play. Tonight’s tilt will be his first match since the playoffs. Kitchener F Connor Bunnaman was sent back to the team from the Flyers last night and will suit up. The ‘Birds are going young in net with sophomore Garrett Forrest and rookie Luke Cavallin.

Keep an eye on: Flint F Ryan Moore led the club with 39 goals and 51 assists and was seventh overall in OHL scoring last season. Though, the Rangers will get a pass tonight as he's suspended until Sept. 30.

- Rangers F Nick McHugh will sit out his one-game suspension stemming from last season's playoffs against Owen Sound.

- Kitchener defenceman Logan Stanley is still at Winnipeg Jets training camp. He'll be with the Jets through the weekend at minimum.

- F Eric Guest suffered a concussion in the final pre-season game and is back home in London and out indefinitely. Winger Dylan Seitz hurt his shoulder in a fight and is also out. He's listed as day-to-day.

- G Anthony Dumont-Bouchard starts tomorrow in Sarnia.

- Flint came out strong and outshot the Rangers 5-1 in the opening three and a half minutes. Ty Dellandrea really stood out.

- A solid crowd for the home opener. Hopefully it continues. It can be hit and miss early on.

- Depth really showing for the Rangers when you consider that McHugh, Guest and Seitz sat out. That’s a pretty solid trio. Toss in two picks playing Jr. B and there are reserves waiting to play.

- The Rangers came out hitting early on. Overall it felt like they were first to the puck a lot more than last season. Even strength defence has also improved.

- The power play should have no problems scoring. It’s loaded with snipers – Mascherin, Hugg, Bunnaman, Garreffa and Vallati. That's going to be fun to watch.

- Hugg was all over the ice in a good way. He was buzzing on pucks, played the PP and PK and is pretty crafty with the puck.

- Richardson made a beauty save on Nicholas Caamano on a breakaway early in the first. Overall, he deserved better. Wouldn't pin the loss on him in this one.

- Delay of game penalties aside, Connor Hall also made his presence known. It felt like he was on the ice the entire game.

- Would love to see the scoring chances for this game. Had to be advantage Rangers.

- Discipline is something the team can clean up. It's game one. Let's take a breath and see where things are at in a month.